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KISS gets the call to the Hall, preps tour with Def Leppard

KISS has finally made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but of course the band's induction – considered by many to be many, many years in the making – wasn't without controversy.

The KISS Army, aka fans in black T-shirts, black leather and makeup, surrounded the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to support Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley. But they stood in stark contrast to the more appropriately dressed folks in attendance for the black-tie awards show. And hours before the ceremony, Stanley and Simmons practically called out the Hall for not allowing every member since Criss and Frehley to be inducted. And because past and future members – and the Hall of the Fame – couldn't come to an agreement on who would perform, the band decided to settle the argument by not playing at all.

KISS, of course, wasn't the only band inducted. They joined the rest of the year's class that included Hall and Oates, Linda Ronstadt, the E Street Band, Peter Gabriel and Nirvana. But much of the chatter was centered on Simmons and company, who waited 15 years for their induction (causing Stanley to note during the speech that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "hates" the band).

KISS is a little over a month away from teaming up with Def Leppard for a 42-city North American tour. It kicks off June 23 in West Valley City, Utah and wraps up August 31 in Woodlands, Texas. It will be the first time the two bands have shared a bill. A dollar from each ticket sold will go to the Wounded Warrior Project and various other charities.

Still rockin' after all these years (Updated March 27, 2013)

Ask someone – anyone – the most memorable thing about KISS and you're likely to get just one answer. Its members' black and white face paint, particularly Gene Simmons' DEMON, is often the lasting image one can or will have if they've seen the band in person. Still, the music and the talent of these guys shouldn't be swept under the rug. The arena rock you hear today is thanks, in part, to these glamsters and all the years they've been churning out hits.

True, it's been 40 years since KiSS put on the paint and changed the industry. It's a fact that the band has sold more than 100 million records and played to 22 million fans since it was formed. Still, if you thought for a minute that Kiss reached the height of its popularity in the late 1970's…you're probably right. But websites, social media and a drive to be as campy now as they were then has led to a re-birth that probably no one could have predicted.

Kiss has been round the world and back again when they returned to the studio in 2008, recording what would become their first studio album in 11 years, "Sonic Boom." In a popular marketing initiative at the time, the project was exclusively distributed in North America by Wal-Mart. Three years later came their 20th studio album, "Monster," and a full-fledged worldwide tour.

Their album's first single, "Hell or Hallelujah," got some play on rock radio and climbed to the middle reaches of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. The follow-up, "Long Way Down," reached the Billboard Heritage Rock Charts by the end of 2012, and also claimed a spot on the America's Music Rock Chart for several months.

This may not be its heyday, but this is still every day for Kiss and its legions of fans. We won't say catch them if you can, because it looks like, even know, they're here to stay a while. Face paint, flamboyant stage outfits and all.

About KISS

Formed in NYC in 1973 and exploding on the Heavy Metal/Hard Rock scene with their eponymous debut album, KISS, this foursome stormed concert fans everywhere with their twin guitars and unique, elaborate and hard-driving showmanship. Their playlist of hard-charging, aggressive but primal jams has been coveted by fans ever since. Enjoying one of their first creative, commercial and popular peaks in the late 70s, KISS continued to perform and flourish in the decades that followed. Despite line-up changes that threatened to stall their momentum, they continue to rock delighted, delirious and sold- out crowds around the globe with their powerful, potent and always crowd- pleasing sound. Get Kiss tickets to watch these legends live in concert.

News

March 19, 2014

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